Here are tips for making a delicious – and healthier – Thanksgiving meal.
1. Tame your turkey – It’s a lean protein source, but avoid “self-basting” birds, which often have added butter or oil.
2. Switch up your stuffing – Use whole-wheat bread instead of white. Season with vegetables and broth instead of meat and butter.
3. Go green – Skip creamy soup casserole. Try steaming green beans and seasoning them with lemon zest.
4. Lose the potato peeler – Potato skins provide fiber and potassium (and bonus, less prep time!).
5. Boast your roast – Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness. Toss with a little olive oil and garlic and pop into the oven.
6. Pucker up – Cut the sugar in your cranberry sauce recipe by at least half.
7. Go for color in your menu – The fall harvest includes many colorful “superfoods” that are packed with nutrients. Think sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, pumpkin, apples and squash. Yum!
So, begin planning your celebrations with a search for healthy holiday foods, like these from the Mayo Clinic and Honey Colony